Gurugram: The Haryana Police has withdrawn security cover for several prominent Jannayak Janata Party leaders, including close family members of former Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala.
Interestingly, the Haryana Police’s action came hours after the Haryana DGP O.P. Singh issued a letter asking his police force to withdraw security of those who flaunt it as a symbol of power.
Known for speaking to his men through open letters posted on his social media X handle, the Haryana DGP wrote on Thursday: “Mall-cinema, shaadi-mayyat mein kuch fukre log police suraksha ka show-off karte dikhte hain. Aise tikdamiyon ko blacklist kar dein. (At malls, cinemas, weddings or funerals, some people flaunt police security. Such manipulators should be blacklisted”).
The DGP posted the letter on his social media handle at 8.48 am on Thursday and the Haryana Police posted on its X handle at 7.25 am. “Major Action by Haryana Police. Security withdrawn for 72 individuals after a district-level review of security provided based on threat/extortion calls across the state. 200+ PSOs (Personal Security Officers) have been recalled from duty. The review process will be carried out continuously. Now, security will only be provided to those who face a genuine threat!”
Several prominent figures connected to the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) are among the 72 individuals whose security has been taken away by the Haryana Police.
Among those affected are Digvijay Chautala, the president of JJP’s youth wing and younger brother of former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, along with Dushyant’s father-in-law Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, a retired additional director general of police, and Digvijay’s brother-in-law Devender Kadyan, an office bearer of the JJP and son of former Haryana assembly speaker Satbir Singh Kadyan.
The list also includes Haryanvi singer Rahul Fazilpuria, who sang the song “JJP Aayegi” (JJP will come) at a JJP rally in Jind on 10 December, and youth JJP leader Vinesha Gurjar.
Rahul Fazilpuria, known for his Bollywood number “Ladki Beautiful, Kar Gayi Chull” in the film Kapoor and Sons, had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election on a JJP ticket from Gurugram.
Fazilpuria was given security after he was attacked by miscreants in Gurugram just a few months ago.
Political firestorm
The move has drawn sharp reactions from those affected. In Sirsa, Digvijay Chautala made a pointed reference to Director General of Police O.P. Singh, invoking an old Sanskrit proverb: “Vinash kale vipreet buddhi”—which translates to “when destruction is near, wisdom turns perverse”. The young JJP leader suggested that the DGP’s actions reflected poorly on the police administration, contrasting current practices with the approach of his great-grandfather, former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, who used to take officers to villages to connect with people.
“O.P. Singh is here only for a few days,” Digvijay reportedly said, adding, “Despite being government servants, they act like bosses. They have become dictators. O.P. Singh is one of them.”
Contacted by ThePrint on Friday, Digvijay Chautala said his press conference in Sirsa was on the plight of farmers not getting proper compensation for their crop loss due to the heavy monsoon, but his comments on the withdrawal of security was in response to a question by the media.
“I would just like to say that the BJP government was feeling threatened after the success of the JJP’s rally and Haryana Police’s action was part of that,” he added.
What the DGP’s letter said
The DGP’s letter is addressed to Chowki Incharge, SHO, Inspector/ASI, DSP/ASP, SP/CP/DCP/ADGP, IG/ADGP/DGP, Police Ranges, IG/ADGP/DGP etc.
The letter says, “In recent Operation Hotspot Dominatio, we have noted the arrest of seven to eight hundred criminals in the past few months. These individuals have confessed to committing many crimes. Some of them are willing to give up crime and become informers for us to help you in police operations. Use this kind of behaviour of theirs for the benefit of the public. I heartily congratulate you for your courage, patience, and resolve in the face of their heinous conduct. According to the record, we have 112 organised crime groups and several gang leaders who are involved in serious crimes like drug trafficking, illegal liquor, illegal mining, and ransom. They need to be dealt with strictly.”
On the issue of withdrawing security, the DGP’s letter, written in Hindi, said when translated, “Often, in malls-cinemas, weddings-funerals, some petty people are seen showing off police protection. Blacklist such tricksters. What is the meaning of this unnecessary work?”
(Edited by Viny Mishra)